New Canaan High School coach Lou Marinelli gets the game ball for winning his 250th game as the Rams' field general.

Photo Credit: Melvin Mason

The New Canaan Rams didn't pitch a shutout, but they had an easy time against St. Joseph's on homecoming weekend.

Photo Credit: Melvin Mason

    • NEW CANAAN, Conn. – Matt Milano and his New Canaan teammates had an entire year to dwell on a crippling loss to St. Joseph High School of Trumbull. On Saturday, the Rams exacted revenge in record-breaking style.

    Milano threw for 340 yards and six touchdowns, five to teammate Patrick Newton en route to a dominating 43-14 homecoming win. Saturday’s victory was also the 250th for New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli, in his 31st season at the Rams helm.

    Marinelli’s players applauded their legendary coach, giving him the game ball in celebration of an easy win.

    “It means I’m getting old,” Marinelli said of his milestone, laughing heartily.

    New Canaan scored 36 of its 43 points in the first half, and St. Joe’s never posed a threat. Marinelli said it was good to see the Rams, now 6-0, step out early instead of giving their opponents early chances. “For our kids to come out with that effort, it means we’re getting better,” Marinelli said. “For us to come out the way we did is really a step forward as a team.”

    Milano said the team wanted to avenge last year’s defeat at the hands of the Cadets. St. Joe’s beat New Canaan, 28-27, in Trumbull, costing the Rams a shot at the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship.

    Milano found Newton on five passes, including on a thrilling 75-yard catch and run that boosted New Canaan’s lead to 29 early in the second quarter. Targeting Newton, who caught eight passes for 196 yards, wasn’t in the plans, the quarterback said. Newton happened to be the best man to catch the ball.

    “That’s what the spread offense is capable of,” Milano said. “Most of them were in the first half, but it was special to move down the field the way we did.”

    Marinelli praised his quarterback for working as a coach on the field. ”He really sees the whole field,” the coach said. “He’ll go through the progressions and if it’s not there, he’ll just keep it moving and find an open receiver.”

    New Canaan will play next on Friday night at Wilton.